Spanish Infantry Honours its Patron Saint

Spanish Infantry honours its patron saint (Legion Brigade) )

Spanish Infantry honours its patron saint (Airborne Light Infantry Brigade)

Spanish Infantry has had the Immaculate Conception as its patron saint since 1892, although she had already been revered as such since 1585, when the famous miracle of Empel (Netherlands) occurred during the Eighty Year’s War. To honour their patron saint, and that of Spain, all units of this Fundamental Specialty celebrated yesterday, 8th December, various military parades on their bases and at their barracks.

The Chief of the Army Staff presided over one of these ceremonies, precisely the one that took place on Base ‘Álvarez de Sotomayor’ in Viator (Almería). There a Legionnaire Saturday formation was undertaken, with the peculiarity that on this occasion, Army General Fulgencio Coll presented the 2nd Army General Chief of the Army Staff Trophy to the Legion Brigade commander, General Juan J. Leza. This award accredits the Legion Brigade as the unit whose sports team has achieved the best classification after adding up the points obtained in all events counting toward the trophy. In his address, General Leza affirmed, “Our units are going to an area of operations with an extremely high level of preparation, and those units are having excellent results in Afghanistan. And as we continue to free territory toward the north, we are guaranteeing freedom of movements and successfully training Afghan Army units that, in the short term, must be capable of providing security to their citizens so that they are the masters of their own future. We are winning, we are fulfilling our mission.”

The parade organised by 45th Light Infantry Regiment ‘Garellano’ on Base ‘Soyeche’ in Munguía (Vizcaya) was presided over by the Deputy Chief of the Army Staff, Lieutenant General Martín Villalaín. In the ceremony three companies from 3rd/45th ‘Guipúzcoa’ fell into formation, since the remaining personnel are deployed in Afghanistan. During the tribute ceremony to those who have given their life for Spain, all those present especially remembered Staff Sergeant Joaquín Moya, who died recently. 49th Light Infantry Regiment ‘Tenerife’, as well as honouring its patron saint, paid tribute to Private José T. Fariñas, who died in an accident that occurred in February, when he was preparing to take part in the Afghanistan mission. His widow was in charge of posthumously receiving the Cross of Military Merit in the yellow division.

This ceremony was held on Base ‘Hoya Fría’ in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. A similar ceremony, led by the commander of the Canary Island Command, Lieutenant General César Muro, and the president of the autonomous government, Mr. Paulino Rivero, took place on Base ‘Puerto del Rosario’ (Fuerteventura), where 9th Light Infantry Regiment ‘Soria’ is garrisoned. The 52nd Melilla ‘Regulares’ Group and 1st Legion Regiment ‘Gran Capitán’, honoured their patron saint on Base ‘Alfonso XIII’, in the presence of the commander general of Melilla, General Álvaro de la Peña. In Ceuta, the military parade had as its scenario Base ‘González Tablas’, where personnel from the 54th Ceuta ‘Regulares’ Group and 2nd Legion Regiment ‘Duque de Alba’ fell into formation.

The ceremony was presided over by the commander general of Ceuta, General Martín-Ambrosio, accompanied by the president of the autonomous city, Mr. Juan J. Vivas. On Base ‘Jaime II’ in Palma de Mallorca, the commander general of the Balearic Islands, General Adolfo Orozco, presided over the ceremony in which 47th Light Infantry Regiment ‘Palma’ had the leading role. The parade was presided over by the president of the autonomous community, Mr. José R. Bauzá. Mountain Troop Headquarters carried out a military parade on Base ‘La Victoria’ de Jaca (Huesca), in which 64th Mountain Light Infantry Regiment ‘Galicia’ participated.

The ceremony was presided over by the commander of Mountain Troop Headquarters, General Gumersindo Veiga. In turn, 7th Light Infantry Brigade ‘Galicia’ celebrated the festivity of the Immaculate Conception with the presence of the president of the autonomous government, Mr. Núñez Feijóo, on Base ‘General Morillo’ in Figueirido (Pontevedra). The ceremony included an Oath of Allegiance to the Flag for civilian personnel, in which 44 people participated. Mr. Nuñez Feijóo awarded the cross of Military Merit in the red division to Captain López de Lis for his action in Afghanistan, where he led the seize and defence of a hill in the Murghab valley, in a region with strong Taliban presence.

Also awarded medals were Master Sergeant José A. Fuentes and Master Sergeant Luis Díaz, who received the Cross of Military Merit in the blue division. Similar ceremonies were carried out at the Infantry Academy, birthplace of the Arm, and in many other units all throughout Spain and the area of operations.